Appeals court says Trump is unlawfully constructing White House ballroom

A US federal appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump is unlawfully constructing a ballroom at the White House, finding that the administration lacks the authority to build it on its own and must first win approval from Congress. The court upheld a lower federal judge's ruling blocking the project, though it allowed below-ground construction work to continue. The dispute centres on a planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom estimated to cost $400 million. To clear space for it, Trump had the historic East Wing of the White House demolished the previous year, a move that drew sharp criticism and set off the legal fight now winding through the courts. Trump responded angrily to the decision and said his administration intends to appeal to the US Supreme Court. The appeals court paused its ruling for two weeks to give the administration time to seek that review, setting up a potential confrontation over the limits of presidential power and Congress's control of federal spending.

Appeals court rules White House needs Congress to approve ballroom

A US federal appeals court has ruled that the White House cannot proceed with construction of President Donald Trump's planned ballroom without approval from Congress, upholding an earlier decision by a lower federal judge that blocked the project.

The court found that the administration lacks the authority to build the ballroom on its own. The project, estimated to cost $400 million and covering a planned 90,000 square feet, therefore requires congressional sign-off before construction can move forward.

The ruling does not halt all work at the site. The court's decision permits below-ground construction on the project to continue even as the broader building remains blocked.

The judges did not speak with one voice. According to reports from outlets including The Guardian, CBS News and NBC News, the decision was not unanimous, with the judges divided on the outcome. Reports also suggest the ruling could set the stage for a significant legal confrontation over the project, though those assessments remain the view of the publishers consulted rather than settled fact.

East Wing demolition and the $400 million plan behind the fight

The legal battle traces back to a decision made the previous year, when Trump had the historic East Wing of the White House demolished. The demolition cleared space for a planned ballroom covering 90,000 square feet, with an estimated cost of $400 million.

The scale of the project and the destruction of a historic part of the building set the stage for the court fight that followed. A lower federal judge ruled to block construction of the ballroom, halting the project before it could advance as the administration intended.

That lower court decision was then taken up on appeal. The appeals court upheld the federal judge's ruling, keeping the block on construction in place. The project, one of the most ambitious alterations to the White House in its history, remains stalled as the legal process continues.

Trump vows Supreme Court appeal as ruling is paused for two weeks

President Trump reacted angrily to the decision and said his administration intends to appeal to the US Supreme Court. The appeals court paused its ruling for two weeks to give the administration time to seek that review, meaning the block on construction will not take full effect immediately.

The pause leaves the project in a holding pattern. The court's decision permits below-ground construction work on the site to continue even as the broader ruling stands, so some activity at the White House can proceed while the administration prepares its next legal move.

Whether the Supreme Court will agree to take up the case remains an open question. The administration has signalled its intention to appeal but, as of the ruling, had not yet secured the high court's involvement. The two-week window now sets the timetable for what comes next in the dispute over the planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

What the ruling means for the ballroom and the separation of powers

The decision raises the prospect of a prolonged fight over the limits of presidential authority to alter the White House without lawmakers' consent. Reports suggest the ruling could set up a significant legal confrontation over the project, according to the publishers consulted.

Much remains unresolved. It is not yet known whether the administration has formally filed an appeal with the Supreme Court, or how the justices would respond. The appeals court's precise legal basis for requiring congressional approval has not been detailed. And while below-ground construction was allowed to continue, the current status of that work is unclear.

Frequently asked questions